Three electronic and computer engineering students from University of Galway win a €6,000 prize at the annual EirGrid Cleaner Grid Competition.
The theme of this year’s competition asked students to “Present your vision of what the growing energy sector will need to look like in 2050 to have sustainably achieved net-zero emissions”.
Winning team members Ruchit Ghandi, Sarah Jane Hughes and Ethan O’Brien claimed second place for their proposal Peer Power, an app designed to encourage members of local communities to share energy which is generated locally.
They were awarded a prize of €6,000 (€3,000 for the winning student team and €3,000 for the student’s third-level institute), by the judging panel.
Their project narrowly missed out to team Todhchaí Glas from University College Dublin, who claimed first place.
Following the awards, Galway native, Ruchit Ghandi, spoke positively of the team’s experience, saying, “As young citizens of this country we feel it is important people understand more about net zero and climate targets but also how they can contribute to sustainability.”
“For students entering competitions like this in the future I recommend looking that something that will solve challenges for people. It was very enjoyable.”
The CleanerGrid competition run by EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid, aims to foster innovation and creativity by encouraging students to showcase their skills in solving critical energy challenges, with a focus on sustainability, efficiency and clean energy technologies.
Entrants were asked to show how the grid will need to change to allow for more renewable sources and less synchronous generation; including what government policies will need to be in place, how the economy will be affected, how the grid will need to adapt, how technology can help achieve this goal, or any other relevant points they identify in order to create a resilient energy system for the future.
Among the ideas put forward by the five competing teams of finalists from DCU, University of Galway, UCD and Trinity College Dublin included pumped hydro, leveraging our coasts through offshore wind and the use of artificial intelligence in grid enhancement.
The judging panel was composed of Joanna Donnelly, Meteorologist with Met Éireann, Vish Gain, Technology and Business Journalist with the Business Post, Professor John Barry, Professor of Green Political Economy at Queens University Belfast and EirGrid’s own Head of Engineering and Asset Management, Louise O’Flanagan.
Congratulating all the teams on an engaging series of presentations, EirGrid Chief Innovation Officer Liam Ryan said, “Today’s competition is further evidence of the valuable contributions third-level students can offer in tackling societal challenges such as decarbonisation, energy affordability and climate action.”
“They are at the forefront of the latest cutting-edge research through our universities, and we can learn so much from them.”
“As we work towards delivering the Government targets for a decarbonised, sustainable, and strong economy, we recognise the importance of bringing students and young people with us on the journey as we transition to a clean, renewable energy grid.”
“We offer our thanks to everyone who took part in today’s final, coming from all corners of the country.”
